Heart of Hinduism: Dress Below: The saffron clothes of this sadhu (holy man) indicates that he is a sannyasi. Tucked under his arm he holds the customary danda (staff). Right: A married man dressed in a traditional white cotton dhoti. On the top he wears a generously cut shirt called a kurta. Men often wear a chaddar (shawl) which in cold weather can be wrapped around the shoulders and torso. When the weather is warm, it can be folded over the shoulder. In Britain, practically all Hindu men wear western clothes, except perhaps on important religious occasions. In India, men wear Western or Indian clothes and often a mixture of both. Like other aspects of Indian culture, dress has religious as well as aesthetic significance. It demonstrates both elegance and simplicity, and can be produced by village workshops without the need for large factories. Many clothes, such as a lady's sari and a man's dhoti, are simply pieces of cloth and do not require tailoring. For women there is an emphasis on modesty rather than sexual allurement, and simple elegance, rather than fashion.

Saris come in a whole range of regional styles, and are made from cotton, silk or nylon. There are different regional ways of wearing a sari, although the "nivi" style has become very popular recently. Left: A Hindu lady dressed in a sari. In India most women still dress like this. In the early seventies, when Hindus started arriving en-masse in Britain, practically all women wore traditional costume. Western fashion is becoming increasingly prevalent in subsequent generations, although ladies often still wear saris when visiting the mandir. It is now not unusual to see photos of some Western dignitaries wearing an exotic silk sari. Some Muslims, such as those from Bangladesh, also wear saris. Right: A Punjabi Hindu woman, dressed in the salwar­kameez. It consists of a tunic (kameez) covering loosely fitting trousers (salwar). Occasionally, a chunni (shawl) is used to cover the head and shoulders. Sikh women wear the same costume. Personal Reflection What significance does dress have for us? How does it affect or relate to our identity and self-worth? Does dress reflect a person's nature, culture or values?

Or do we feel that determining a person by his or her dress is being judgmental? Indian clothes, what women and men of India wear? Search What do Indians wear? India is a diverse country with different cultures and religions . The customs followed by Indian people vary across length and breadth of the country. Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, and Christianity, are some of the major religions people believe and follow. Not only the religion affects the way people think, live and dress but also the region or the state they belong to has great influence. What do Indian women wear? Traditionally the dress for Indian women devoid of caste, creed and culture is sari. Sari (saree) is a four to nine yard unstitched garment draped in different styles and worn on an upper stitched garment called choli/blouse. Here’s how to wear the sari . Indian women wearing the sari Though sari is popularly believed to be the traditional dress for Indian women , there are other dresses that are either region specific or culture specific which are also considered to be part of Indian traditional dresses. In Punjab the traditional dress is Salwar Kameez and in Rajasthan it is Gagra Choli or also known as Lehenga.

In Kerala an older version of sari called Mundum Neriyathum is the traditional dress, where Mundu forms the lower garment and Neriyathu is the upper garment. Indian bride wearing a saree In other parts of the country the most popular traditional dress is sari which is draped in a variety of styles. For example, in Maharashtra the kachha style and in Gujarat front pallu style. This is me wearing the Salwar Kameez However, with time the sense of dressing is evolved. Due to factors like globalisation and westernisation, today’s women take a modern approach when it comes to dress. Except for the older generation who are conservative and orthodox, the sari has been popularly replaced by Churidhar-Kurta and the Salwar Kameez. Women of almost all the ages starting from 18 years old to 90 years old prefer dressing in Salwaar Kameez for their day to day life. The traditional garment Kurthi is worn as a top on jeans which gives a casual western look while still has the conservative elegance of Indian wear kurtha. There is yet another class of Indian women who have taken a leap towards modernisation.

These are again a section of females aged between 18 and 90 who are more influenced by the lifestyle and habitats rather than religion or culture of the regions. They believe in contemporary fashion and are more westernised. Pants, skirts, minis, you name it and they wear it! Hijab – Muslim women wear it as part of their tradition. It is a long and loose dress usually black in colour, gown like outer garment which is either worn on sari or Salwaar Kameez. It is paired with a black head dress which has a black transparent face cover attached to it. ethnicity online:: hindus: dress codes Ethnicity Online Hindu Dress Code female clothing The traditional costume of Hindu women in India is the sari . This is a piece of brightly coloured material that is wound and pleated around the waist to cover the legs. An underskirt is worn beneath it. A short blouse is worn on top, and the end of the sari is draped over the shoulder on top of this. This leaves the midriff bare. In the UK, the older generation may still wear this costume, but younger Hindus are beginning to wear long trousers and tunic tops as a compromise between the sari and western clothing.

male clothing In the UK, Hindu men generally wear western clothes. The older generation may compromise by wearing normal trousers and a long tunic top over them. The traditional outfit is very similar to this; the tunic is a jacket with buttons down the front and a 'Nehru' collar, and the trousers are generally quite loose. make-up Hindu women wear a coloured spot on their forehead as a sign of their marital status and are very proud of this. The mark is called a bhindi (also called bindi , or kumkum after the name of the red powder that is used to make it). To avoid upsetting a patient, do not ask for it to be removed unless it is absolutely necessary. Traditionally, the red spot that is worn by married women was marked on a bride's forehead by the groom with his own blood, as a symbol of the bond between them. Widows and some unmarried women may wear a black bhindi. Young and unmarried women usually wear a bhindi that matches the colour of their outfit. For special occasions, the usual simple make-up dot is supplemented by a jewelled stick-on mark.

Men sometimes use sectarian marks (known as tilaka) in a similar way to bhindi, as a symbol of their caste ( jati ), class ( varna ) or religious sect. Hindus also practise henna body art for special occasions. Intricate designs are traced onto their hands, arms and feet using a henna paste and fine brushes or feathers. Once the henna is washed off, the design remains as a tracery of fine ochre lines on the skin and is there to ward off evil spirits and bad luck, and attract good fortune. Henna can cause skin irritation. If Broadway is the heart of all performing arts activities in the United States, Wicked, the musical is that one show which keeps that heart going. New York in general and Broadway in particular is abuzz with Wicked and has been since 2003 when it was premiered. The lyrics and the music are so professionally done that it did not take the production too long to win two very prestigious awards; a Grammy and Laurence Olivier Award. Packed with a star cast, it is every theatre-lover''s dream to watch this musical. So live your dream and buy your Wicked New York Tickets now!

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Fabulous performances one after another have turned this Mayhem Festival into one of the most anticipated events of the season. Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival Bristow VA concert lineup includes popular bands such as ''''Motorhead''''?? ''''The Devil Wears Prada'''' and ''''Jagermeister''''. Don''t miss this great event and get a chance to see your favorite rock stars perform live now. Get your Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival Bristow VA Tickets asap. What clothes do Hindus wear? | Reference.com What clothes do Hindus wear? A: Quick Answer Traditionally, Hindu men wear a dhoti kurta and women wear a sari. The clothing of Hindu people varies depending on the time of year and the area in which they live. Full Answer A dhoti kurta is an outfit often worn by married Hindu men. It consists of a generously cut cotton shirt called a kurta covered by a dhoti, which is a long piece of material that ties around the waist and extends to cover most of the legs. Sometimes, in western countries, men will adopt the clothing styles of the country they live in.

Many Hindu women prefer to wear a sari although some will wear a pair of loose-fitting trousers and a long tunic. This outfit is called a salwarkameez. Women who prefer to cover their heads might wear a chunni, or a shawl. Different Types of Indian Women Clothing | A New Life Wandering A New Life Wandering Different Types of Indian Women Clothing Posted on : April 8, 2014 Posted by : Mani 27 Comments One of the first things you will notice when traveling to India is the spectacular patterns and colors of women clothing. Women’s types of clothing in this country vary widely depending on climate, local culture, and religion, as well as urban or rural settings. In urban settings, western clothing is becoming more common, as well as the combination of western and eastern clothing. For example a kurti (or kurta) with jeans is a common sight in Mumbai and Pune. In rural areas, more traditional clothing is worn; for example women always wear a saree. India has a great diversity of fabrics, weaves, and colors that make every piece of clothing unique. “Colour codes are followed in clothing based on the religion and ritual concerned.

For instance, Hindu ladies wear white clothes to indicate mourning, while Parsis and Christians wear white to weddings.” source Four Types of Indian Women Clothing: Sari (or saree) Me in a beautiful sari that belonged to a friend’s mom. The saree (sari) is a long unstitched cloth, usually patterned, which drapes over the body, worn with a tailored blouse and usually over a petticoat. This garment ranges from 4 to 9 meters in length and it is used widely across India in urban and rural areas. I would consider this to be the staple of Indian women clothing. The draping style varies depending on the area of the country. The most common style is when the fabric is wrapped around the waist with one end then draped over the shoulder. Sari blouses are often “backless” with a halter style string drape. Salwar Kameez Trendy Embroidered Pure Cotton Salwar Kameez from Triveni The Salwar Kameez is mostly worn in Northern parts of India like Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

It consists of the salwar (loose trousers that are narrow at the ankles), and the kameez (a long shirt or tunic). In Southern India, this style is called the “Punjabi suit” or simply “shalwar“. This dress is worn a lot by teenage girls and many Bollywood actresses. A dupatta is usually worn with a salwar kameez. A dupatta is a scarf that is traditionally used to cover the head and the shoulders, or used drawn over the shoulders and drawn back over the bosom, but nowadays it is widely used as a fashion accessory. The material depends on the one used for the suit and varies between cotton, georgette, silk, chiffon, and others. Lehenga Choli (or Ghagra Choli) The Lehenga Choli (or Ghagra Choli) is the traditional dress in Northern India like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. The lehenga is a long skirt which is embroidered and pleated. A choli is a midriff-bearing blouse worn also with a sari; it is tailored to tightly fit the body with short sleeves and a low neck.

Finally, a dupatta is worn to finish the look, being tucked into the skirt then wrapped at the waist and then draped over the shoulder similar to a sari. Different styles of lehenga cholis are worn ranging from cotton types for daily wear, embellished ones for festivals, or fully embroidered ones for marriage ceremonies. Kurti (or kurta) Vine & Paisely Motif Kurti from Triveni A kurti is simply a long shirt or blouse that falls below the waist and sometimes below the knees. This one can be worn for casual daily use or even as office-wear. Many times it is also accompanied by a dupatta (which we learned is the “Indian scarf”). It can be worn with salwar pants (wide at the thighs and narrower at the ankles), churidar pants which are usually narrow throughout the leg, leggings, or even jeans. Some kurtis have two sewn openings on the sides where the fabric falls in the thighs. Kurti from Triveni Fashions All of the clothing above except for the saree is from Triveni . I chose two of their items, the salwar kameez and the kurti from the pictures above.

They look amazing in the website, but when they arrived at my door, they did not disappoint. In fact, I was out of town when they arrived and I gave permission to my husband to open the package (I love mail and opening it). This is what he texted me: Holy shit babe I opened your package. It’s AMAZING Hindu Wearing,Traditional Hindu Dress,Hindu Women Wearing,Traditional Hindu Dress for Women Home » Women Wear by Religion » Hindu Wearing Hindu Wearing There are no rigid rules concerning dress, however there are some traditional practices which may vary from region to region in the Indian Subcontinent. The traditional Hindu dress for women is a Sari or a Shalwar-Kameez. It is about personal choice and expression, some may adopt a western style of dress for work. The Hindu women prefer to wear a saree or a salwar kameez for any religious functions at home or outside. For example, during the various festivals celebrated in India like Diwali, Karwa Chauth, Durga Puja, Pongal, Bihu, Baisakhi, Dandiya, Ganesh Festival, we see Indian women wearing their traditional dress.

For example: We will never see a Bengali women wearing a salwar kurta on Durga Puja. She will always wear her traditional saree. Similarly, an Assamese lady will wear mekhala Chaddar on Bihu. A North Indian Hindu lady will wear a new saree or salwar kameez on Diwali or her bridal dress on Karwa Chauth. South Indian Hindu ladies will wear traditional Kanjeevaram Silk saree or other South Indian Silk saris or the typical white saree with golden border for Pongal and other religious functions. The Gujarati ladies, the Rajasthani ladies prefer to wear ghagra cholis for the festivals in their states and so on. Every state in India has its own culture and tradition and accordingly the Hindu ladies wear their traditional outfit. How to distinguish a Hindu married women from others? Besides the traditional dresses, a Hindu married woman is identified from married women of other religions through some accessories like: Sindoor Sindoor is a red powder used by married Hindu women. During the marriage ceremony, the groom applies sindoor to the parting of the bride's hair to show that she is now a married woman.

Subsequent sindoor is applied by the wife as part of her dressing routine. Once widowed, a woman is not supposed to wear sindoor. Bindi Hindu married ladies applied it on their foreheads to symbolize marriage. The colour is always red. In the ancient times, Indian Bindi was worn as a tradition mark. But, today it has become more of a fashion style with various colour and designs. Sometimes the bindi is a symbol of religious affiliation, or a mark of a recent religious ceremony; sometimes the bindi is mere beautification. Today, even unmarried girls or a widow can wear a bindi. However, a widow cannot wear sindoor in the parting of her hair. Mangalsutra Mangalsutra is not just a jewellery item--it has lots of significance to an Indian Hindu married woman. It is known by different names in different states of the country. In south it is known as Thaali and in north India it is Mangalsutra. It is considered auspicious for married women to wear mangalsutra after marriage. The most common type is made of two strings of small black beads with a locket or pendant. But now the trend is to wear short length with single string.

But the black beads remain constant. Only Hindu married ladies can wear a Mangalsutra. Bangles Worn on the wrist, bangles are believed to be protective bands and Hind women always wore them as symbolic guards over their husbands. As with other ornaments, bangles today are worn by women of all ages all over India and are made of silver, gold, wood, glass and plastic, among other materials. Most married women wear glass bangles. However, in the eastern state of Bengal, they wear one shell bangle, called shakha, and one coral bangle, called paula, on each hand as a symbol of marriage. In the west, a bride from Punjab wears a set of ivory bangles on each hand for 21 days, six months, or a year after marriage, depending on family tradition. And a Rajasthani woman wears ivory bangles from her wrist to her upper arm for the rest of her life or till her husband is alive, although now this is rare. Recent Articles .: Hindu Online :. Know about Concepts Women Clothing in India varies widely and is closely related to local culture, religion and climate.

Traditional Indian clothing for women are the saris or the salwar kameez and also Ghaghra Cholis (Lehengas). For men, traditional clothes are the Dhoti, Lungi or Kurta. Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is one of India's fashion capitals. In some village parts of India, traditional clothing mostly will be worn. In southern India the men wear long, white sheets of cloth called dhoti in north Indian languages like Hindi and Bengali and veshti in Tamil. Over the dhoti, men wear shirts, t-shirts, or anything else. Women wear a sari, a long sheet of colourful cloth with patterns. This is draped over a simple or fancy blouse. This is worn by young ladies and woman. Little girls wear a pavada. A pavada is a long skirt worn under a blouse. Both are often daily patterned. Bindi is part of the women's make-up. Indo-western clothing is the fusion of Western and Subcontinental fashion. Churidar, Dupatta, Gamchha, Kurta, Mundum Neriyathum, Sherwani are among other clothes.

India – known for its hand-woven textiles, richly embroidered fabrics, authentic drapes in exclusive designs have been prized by western civilization for centuries. Indian men and women have always loved to dress up in their traditional costumes, attires and accessories during festivals and other occasions which are an integral part of Indian life. Recently, Indian costumes have been successful in attracting the attention of and capturing the global market. Indian clothing has been influenced by diverse cultural influences since time immemorial. The sari itself, historians say dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization which flourished in 2800-1800 BC, in the north-western part of India. In fact studies show that the men’s dhoti is a prototype of the sari and both the sexes wore the former till the 14th century. The choli or the woman’s blouse is believed to have come into existence with the various European colonial powers that once occupied a major portion of the Indian subcontinent. The British did influence women’s clothing to a great extent. Indian high society ladies started wearing long-sleeved blouses with frills, very similar to the Victorian upper garment, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Historians say that the achkan, a long-sleeved coat worn mainly by Muslim men even today, originated in Central Asia, more specifically, it was the court costume for Persian and Turkish nobles. The achkan can reach down to the knees or even lower, and is buttoned in the front. The Sari The sari is the traditional garment of an Indian woman. It is an unstitched piece of cloth, which varies from five to nine yards in length and can be worn in different styles. A sari is worn over a petticoat and a short-sleeved midriff-baring blouse. The most popular style of wearing a sari is by tucking one end into the petticoat at the waist while a major portion of it is pleated neatly and tucked in the front. The rest of the sari, which is known as the pallu or pallav is taken over the left shoulder. The pallu is the most fascinating and striking feature of a sari, it is often heavily embellished with woven motifs or embroidery. However, this authentic Indian garment has lost some of its popularity as daily wear in the recent past.

The western outfits have made an inroad into the Indian woman’s wardrobe due to a shift towards rapid globalization and emerging corporate culture. Today, women prefer to wear clothes that offer ease of movement in addition to style. Also, with the boom in the retail industry Indians have a wider variety of options to pick and choose from and women are being increasingly seen in designer outfits western style outfits. The Saris of India This elegant drape of India comes in varied textures and styles. For most formal occasions one finds women both the middle-class and the elite looking their best – in a graceful sari! The materials may vary from crisp cottons, rich silks to synthetics and chiffons, but the final overall look is simply elegant and matchless. Did you know that every region of India has a distinct sari of its own, very much influenced by their particular social milieu and culture? Some well-known regional styles of wearing a sari: Bengali: In the traditional Bengali style, the sari is draped around the body without pleats and the pallu is left loose by hanging over the left shoulder often with a bunch of keys attached to it. The earlier generations of Bengali women preferred the style because of its sheer simplicity and utmost comfort.

Gujarati: The Gujarati woman sports a distinctive style, as she wears a sari with a neatly pleated pallu brought in front over the right shoulder with one end tucked around the waist to the left. Maharashtrian: A nine-yard sari called the nawwadi is the traditional style very similar to the men’s dhoti. The pleats of the sari are placed between the legs and tucked in the centre back. Fisherwomen in the coastal regions of Maharashtra still wear a nawwadi and well, it is worn without a petticoat! Madrasi: This style is very similar to the Maharashtrian nawwadi or the nine-yard sari. The pallu is quite long and wrapped around the waist and tucked in. Some important varieties of Indian saris: Banarasi: These saris are made of finely woven silk and have intricate designs done in golden thread (zari). Benarasi saris are relatively heavy and worn by Indian women on important occasions. The trousseau of any Indian bride is deemed incomplete without the customary red Benarasi sari.

In fact in most states the Benarasi is the sari that the bride wears for the wedding ceremony Baluchari: The Baluchari sari of Vishnupur in West Bengal is made of silk and woven on special looms. The borders and pallu of the sari are very striking because of its use of intricate thread work to depict stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Chanderi: Chanderi, a small town located in Madhya Pradesh has long been famous for its hand woven sarees. Silk or cotton is used to make a chanderi which is combined to create beautiful saris with artistic borders that are practically weightless. They generally have a rich gold border and the exclusive ones have gold checks with butis (round shaped motifs) all over. Dhakai: The dhakai jamdani sari originated in the region now known as Bangladesh and is made with superior quality cotton. It was originally woven as the legendary dhakai muslin and woven with beautiful, eye-catching patterns.

Kantha: Literally speaking, kantha is a style of embroidery that uses the simple running stitch which is nothing but passing the needle in and out of the fabric to produce beautiful floral or abstract patterns. Did you know that it all started as a form of recycling of old cloth to produce the traditional quilts and bedspreads made from old saris and large pieces of used cloth. This type of embroidery was an art practiced by Bengali women in their spare time. In the small town of Bolpur in West Bengal, famous for producing saris with kantha embroidery, each sari is a labour of love, taking a long time to complete, as much depends on the skill and precision of the artisans. Dhonekhali, and Begumpuri are other popular styles of saris made on handlooms in Bengal. Dhonekhali is known for its stripes and checks. Bengal being a coastal state, the fish is a much loved and commonplace motif. Consequently Dhonekhali sarees often depict rows of fish running across in horizontal stripes throughout the piece of textile.

Over the years, the distinctive patterns have merged as weavers started experimenting with various combinations of design and yarn, so much so, it is now difficult to distinguish between the various styles, unless one is an expert on texture. Kanjeevaram: These are considered to be the most spectacular and exclusive silk saris of India. The little town of Kancheepuram near Chennai has been making these saris for over 400 years. Woven in brilliant colours and the designs Kanjeevarams are influenced by the paintings in the Pallava temples and palaces. The most striking characteristic of a Kanjeevaram is its zari ( thread made of fine gold or silver) work done on pallus and borders of the sari. Not surprisingly, the more the zari work the more expensive will be your Kanjeevaram! In recent times, Kanjeevarams are being experimented with patterns from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Bhagwad Gita. Mysore Silk: Mysore silk saris of Karnataka are famous for their traditional designs and colours. The zari work on the pallus and borders add to the sophistication and elegance of these saris.

Mysore silk saris are considered to be very durable and can be washed and worn as often as required. Maheshwari: Hailing from Madhya Pradesh, this sari has a natural sophistication that is difficult to match. The speciality of these saris is its unique striped and chequered patterns on silk and cotton fabrics. The pallu of a Maheshwari sari bears five stripes, three coloured and two white. Narayanpet: Narayanpet, a small town in Andhra Pradesh is a significant sari manufacturing centre. These saris come in both silk and cotton and are well known for their gorgeous zari borders with rudraksh (a special type of fruit) motifs. The pallu in these saris are very attractive with alternating coloured bands. Pochampally: Located in Andhra Pradesh, Pochampally is famous for its rich saris in both cotton and silk incorporating traditional ikat weaves. Ikat is the name given to a weaving technique which makes use of the tie-dye process. In this method, the yarn is first dyed and then sent for weaving.

Paithani: In Maharashtra, a woman’s wardrobe is deemed incomplete without the inclusion of the Paithani of Paithan, a small town near Aurangabad. The hand-woven silk sari comes with an ornamented pallu with zari work and is considered to be a collector’s item. The style of the sari is characterized by the pallus with peacock designs and exclusive motifs such as flowers, fruits and birds. Taant: The word literally means ‘made on the loom’, Taant is the traditional sari of Bengali women in India. Popularly known as Bengal cotton, taant is hand-woven in various districts of West Bengal. These saris come in a variety of colours with simple yet beautiful designs. Shantipuri: Shantipur, a small town situated in the Nadia district of West Bengal is famed for its fine cotton saris. These saris are woven on the looms by the taantis (weavers) of the town and come in soft colours. Once upon a time, the Shantipuri dhuti (the rectangular piece of unstitched garment for men) were preferred by all Bengali bridegrooms and their relatives.

Tangail: Tangail is a district in what is today known as Bangladesh. The traditional tangail saris have borders with the lotus or a lamp pattern. These are now being made in the Phulia district of West Bengal. Venkatgiri: Venkatgiri is a small town in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. Known for its fine cotton saris which go by the same name, it is a perfect wear for the Indian summer. The main characteristic of these saris are their beautiful jewel-like colours. Other costumes for women: Salwar Kameez: It is the outfit commonly worn by Indian women and is second in line after the sari. The outfit is probably born out of Islamic influence especially that of Arabic and Persian cultures. Women all over the country prefer this dress mainly because of the comfort and ease of movement that it offers, besides near zero maintenance. A salwar is a pair of loose pyjamas held together with a drawstring around the waist. It also comes in another version – very tight and narrow at the bottom with numerous extra folds gathered at the ankles. This is popularly known as a churidar.

In Punjab, the women wear a patiala salwar which falls around the legs in innumerable pleats resembling a dhoti. A kameez is a long shirt, either loose or tight-fitting and comes in a straight or A-line shape. It is slit along the sides to allow freedom of movement. A salwar kameez is incomplete without a dupatta, which is a long piece of cloth to cover the bosom, but mostly used like a scarf. Ghaghra / Lehenga Choli: A ghagra or a lehenga is a long gathered gypsy skirt with dazzling embroidery or mirror work and comes in vibrant colours. It is worn with a choli, which is a short closely fitted woman’s blouse that shows off the midriff, or a kurti (shorter version of a kurta). Some cholis can be fastened at the back by means of narrow strips of cloth or chords. An odhni or a dupatta (scarf) with intricate designs complements the outfit. Women in Rajasthan and Gujarat don this beautiful and highly sensuous outfit. Dressier versions are teamed with chunky silver jewellery during festivals and other important occasions.

Some Interesting Regional Costumes: Mekhla Chadar: The mekhla chadar is the traditional attire of the women of Assam, a state in the North-East India. It is a two-piece ensemble and resembles the sari – the lower part, called a mekhla is neatly pleated and tucked into the petticoat in the front. The upper piece, called a chadar is also tucked at the waist and taken over the left shoulder as a pallu. A typical mekhla chadar is made of white or golden Assamese silk with prominent thread work done in red along the lower border. Traditional sari from Kerala: During the festival of Onam, women wear a two-piece garment very similar to a sari, with a blouse. It is worn in the same fashion as a sari but without pleats in the front. This drape usually comes in shades of white or sandalwood with a bright gold border. Phiran: The people in the state of Jammu and Kashmir wear a traditional beautiful long sleeved tunic known as phiran. Phirans are made of woollen fabric to keep the wearer warm during the severe winters of the valley.

A woman’s phiran is stylish with colourful embroidery at the cuffs, neck and edges. Interestingly, a phiran is unisex in nature and worn by all sections of the Kashmiri society. The men’s phiran is more sombre, in grey or brown fabric with little or no embroidery. Tribal Costumes: The North-East happens to be one of the most diverse and culturally vibrant regions of India. It comprises the seven beautiful states more popularly called the “Seven Sisters”, inhabited by as many as 166 different tribes pursuing their unique lifestyles. Arunachal Pradesh: Men in Arunachal Pradesh believe in simple dressing styles. Their wardrobe mainly consists of lungis woven in red and black yarn, a jacket and a turban. Arunachali women wear a piece of cloth that covers the body from the shoulders till the knees. They complement the wrap with a full-sleeved coat and an attractive sash, locally called muhkak, tied around their waist. Meghalaya: The Khasi and Garo tribes of Meghalaya are the most prominent tribes of the state. A Khasi man can be identified by his unstitched lower garment or a dhoti, jacket and a turban.

Khasi women wear a two-piece cloth pinned on each shoulder and a shawl, which are called jainsem and tapmoh respectively. Garo women on the other hand wear a blouse and tie a long unstitched piece of cloth called dakmanda around their waist. It is hand-woven, having a 6-10 inch border with floral motifs. A Jaintia woman dresses up in a similar manner in a blouse and a striped sarong called thoh khyrwang. Mizoram: Traditional costumes in Mizoram are exclusively hand-made by the women of the household. Mizo men wear a piece of cloth, almost 7 feet long, which is wrapped around the body. In winter, men wear a long white coat that is fastened at the throat and reaches up to the thighs. These coats have beautiful patterns near the sleeves with bands of red and white. Men also don a special kind of headgear – wrapping a piece of cloth around the head so that the ends fall over each ear. Mizo women wear a single piece of cloth wrapped around the waist and reaching up to the knees. A short white jacket with hand-woven patterns on top completes the look of the costume.

Manipur: Manipuri women traditionally wear a blouse and a three-piece hand-woven phanek, which very closely resembles a wrap-around skirt. Men usually wear a single piece of cloth almost like a lungi. A turban is a must for the Manipuri man Nagaland: The Nagas are classified into sixteen tribes speaking different dialects, customs and traditional costumes. Among the men, the costume mainly consists of a short wrap-around skirt and a feathered headdress. Naga women have different styles of wearing a skirt, called mekhla, which vary with the respective tribes. For example, the women of the Ao tribe wear a piece of cloth wrapped around their waists like a skirt with a hand-woven top or blouse. In some cases, just a single piece of cloth is used to wrap the body starting from the bosom and reaching up to the knees. The pattern mainly consists of red and black stripes with small yellow motifs on the black stripes. Tripura: The tribals of Tripura make their own clothes at home. Men wear a narrow piece of cloth as a lower garment without a shirt. The headgear comprises a turban - just a long cloth tied around the head.

Women wear two separate pieces of cloth that are draped around the body as an upper and lower garment respectively. The most striking feature of the entire garment is the upper half, which is embroidered with beautiful designs. Some other tribal outfits of India The Bhils residing in southwestern Rajasthan are one of the oldest tribes in India. The dry and arid weather of the region have very much influenced the clothing habits of this region. Men are usually comfortable in a loincloth and embroidered waistcoats coupled with turbans and traditional Rajasthani shoes, curled up at the toes. Bhil women wear a single stretch of cloth that is tucked around the waist while the rest is used to cover the head. Wearing a blouse among bhils is a status symbol and only married women are expected to wear one. A variety of jewellery ranging from beaded chokers, colourful bangles, nose-rings and an ornament suspended from the hair to the forehead, is an essential part of a Bhil women’s dress. The Warlis of the Western Ghats, more popularly known as ghatis are scattered over the coast of Maharashtra, Surat in Gujarat and Daman. The tribe believes in minimal clothing and men can be found in short dhotis and embroidered waistcoats.

Warli women wear saris that are short in length, with a half-sleeved embroidered choli that is tied in a knot in the front. The Todas of the Nilgiris in South India are a small population now faced with the threat of extinction. The men of this community wear a long, loose-flowing garment covering the entire body from shoulder to toe. This is usually in white with red and blue borders. The women also wear the same hand-woven garment except in the style of a sari. Their jewellery is restricted to silver, beads and shells. The Santhals of West Bengal, Bihar and parts of Orissa are basically cultivators by occupation. Santhal outfits are again minimal where men wear a lungi whereas women wear a short sari without a blouse, but worn to fit their bodies snugly, without getting undone even in the most trying of circumstances. Men’s costumes: In India, men’s everyday clothing is by and large restricted to western wear such as trousers, shirts and formal suits. But when it comes to festivities, it is the ethnic pajama kurta or dhoti kurta which hold sway.

Some traditional costumes of Indian men are: Dhoti: This remains the most traditional garment of the Indian male. It is a 6 yard-long rectangular piece of unstitched white cloth, which is wrapped around the waist and between the legs. The dhoti is ideal for the torrid summer of India. Its usage can be traced back to ancient times. Though western outfits have replaced the dhoti over the years, yet it remains the chosen one for Indian festivals and weddings. It may be found in cream or off white shades, both in cotton and silk fabrics. But today one can find designer dhotis in different colours and designs. A dhoti can be worn in a variety of ways and have different names according to the style. For example, it is called a dhuti in Bengali, veshti in Tamil and pancha in Telugu. A dhoti is usually complemented with a kurta on top but in southern parts of India, it is worn mostly with a shirt. An angavastram or an unstitched piece of cloth is placed over the left shoulder in this case. A South Indian dhoti is worn like a lungi and often has a broad zari border.

A common sight in South India is that of men folding the dhoti up to the knees for the purpose of comfort, during work. In Bengal, a dhuti is worn pleated, almost touching the ankles and tucked at the centre back. The style is such that the other end is well folded and can be held in the right hand. The garment is quite synonymous with the babus of Calcutta who worked as government servants during the British Raj. Those days the dhoti was worn with a long shirt. It also became the symbol of the Bengali gentleman and the elite who wore a plain dhoti kurta and discussed politics and literature over endless cups of tea at cafes and restaurants! Even today, Bengali men flaunt their exclusive designer dhutis with brilliant kantha stitched kurtas, during festivals and other occasions. Kurtas with batik prints and Lucknawi embroidery are becoming popular too. In some parts of Maharashtra, men still wear the traditional dhoti, which is worn shorter than the way Bengalis wear it. A white kurta and a Nehru cap completes the look of the typical Maharashtrian man.

Lungi: This is a piece of cloth sewn in a circle and worn around the waist like a sarong. Besides India, lungis are popular in several communities across Asia, such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The most common patterns of lungis are plain, checks or stripes. It is considered to be a very comfortable garment among males in regions where conditions make it impossible and uncomfortable for the men to wear trousers all the time. In Punjab, a lungi is also called a tehmat, which is made of extravagant silks in an endless variety of hues and shades. It is draped in a manner where the pleats fall in the front. Punjabi men wear this with a long kurta and an embroidered jacket and of course, a colourful pagdi (turban). Copyright ?? 2015 Hinduonline.co. All Rights Reserved Toggle navigation Indian Clothing- Traditional Indian Clothing, Indian Clothings, Clothing of India, Indian Ethnic Wear Cultural India : Indian Clothing Indian Clothing Traditional Indian clothing has come into prominence once again.

Well, if you notice the trends in fashion industry, you'll realize that modern fashion has aped the styling and designing of the bygone eras, the period of royalty, when Maharajas and Ranis used to spend extravagantly on their clothing. Whatever the royals chose to go in for was reminiscent of splendor and luxury. The creative fashion designers of today are in a lookout for ethnic designs that take us close to our cultural roots and remind us of the glorious past. Well, in this section, we will provide you with information on the different kinds of traditional clothing in India, so read on Indian Ethnic Wear Dhoti Dhoti kurta is the traditional Indian clothing of men. Unlike other dresses, it is an unstitched piece of cloth usually 5 yards long that is tied around the waist and legs. The knot is tied at the waist. Dhoti is known by different names at different places such as Laacha in Punjabi, dhuti in Bangla. Kurta Kurta is a term used to refer to a long loose shirt, the length of which falls below or may be just above the knees of the wearer.

In the olden times, it was primarily worn by men, but today, it has become a unisex dress that both men and women can wear. Indian Salwar Kameez Salwar kameez is the traditional Indian clothing for women. Due to its high popularity in the region of Punjab, shalwar kameez is commonly referred to as Punjabi suit. The fashion of Shalwar Kameez in India is not new. Since the past many few centuries, women have been wearing this wonderful attire. Indian Sari Sari is one of the most wonderful dresses worn by Indian women. Infact, when one thinks of a typical Indian woman, the first thing that strikes the mind is a woman clad in sari, who is wearing the solah shringar including bindi, chudi, kajal etc. Sherwani for Men Sherwani is a long coat resembling achkan in styling. It is buttoned upto the collar and lengthwise it is usually below the knee. It adds to the charm and grace of men, especially the taller ones. Indian men spend lavishly on buying the sherwani suit for the special occasion of their wedding. Turban In India, one can spot many men wearing turban.

Well, turban is tied not for the sake of fashion, but because it has a lot of significance in the lives of Indians. The hair turban is a headdress that basically consists of a long piece of unstitched cloth, which is wrapped around the head.

Question: What is the name of the dress traditionally worn by Hindu women
Answer: Sari